The Conquest of the Americas North and South America before and after European contact

The Americas before Columbus

Before the Europeans came… Over 60 million people populated North and South America, more people than in Europe Very advanced civilizations existed in the American SW, Mexico, and Peru Population was largely disease-free Warfare was constant, many American societies developed strong rivalries

Why Were the Americans so Healthy? Their ancestors had to cross the land bridge, only the strongest and healthiest survived The native populations were isolated from the rest of the world Few diseases existed naturally in the Americas

The Taino People Lived on islands in the Caribbean, split into five kingdoms Lived on islands in the Caribbean, split into five kingdoms Divided into 2 social classes: commoners and nobles Divided into 2 social classes: commoners and nobles Fairly peaceful (had one main enemy) and very productive Fairly peaceful (had one main enemy) and very productive Used gold for ornamentation, jewelry Used gold for ornamentation, jewelry Head a table, healthy population that lived in small villages Head a table, healthy population that lived in small villages

Arrival of Christopher Columbus His crew was sick when they arrived, didn’t leave ship for more than one month Columbus named them “Taino” because it means good and noble The Taino were friendly toward the Europeans, also very generous This would not last

What happened to the Taino? Columbus and crew initially treated Taino people well, but then began demanding tributes from all Taino over age 14 When Taino felt they were being used by Europeans, they stopped being so generous Columbus’ crew began attacking Taino who refused to give them what they wanted They forced the Taino to work in the mines and in the fields Many Taino died in the fields or mines, some committed suicide Taino also became sick with Old World diseases Influenza Measles Smallpox

Influenza Symptoms: weakness, fatigue, headaches, coughing, nausea, vomiting, runny/stuffy nose If it is a new strain or if you have not been exposed to virus before, it can be deadly

Measles Symptoms: fever, coughing, runny nose, red eyes, splotchy rash Symptoms: fever, coughing, runny nose, red eyes, splotchy rash If never exposed to illness, it can be fatal If never exposed to illness, it can be fatal Children and the elderly are the most likely to die from the disease Children and the elderly are the most likely to die from the disease

Smallpox Fever, fatigue, headache, severe rash (eventually puss-filled lesions), delirium Much more serious for people with no exposure to disease Fatal for many, especially children

The Aztecs

The Aztecs Population of Mexico before European arrival: 28 million Aztec capital: Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City); beautiful and well planned, built in the middle of a lake Tenochtitlan had roughly 200,000 inhabitants Aztecs built a powerful empire by conquering weaker groups, but the conquered people were not treated well Popular Aztec leader was Moctezuma, who ruled most of Mexico

Arrival of Cortez Came from Spain with 600 men, 16 horses, a few cannons, but gained supporters from people the Aztecs conquered Came from Spain with 600 men, 16 horses, a few cannons, but gained supporters from people the Aztecs conquered Initial relations between Cortez and Aztecs were shaky at best, and many Aztec nobles did not like the large Spanish army staying in their capital Initial relations between Cortez and Aztecs were shaky at best, and many Aztec nobles did not like the large Spanish army staying in their capital Eventually Aztecs forced Spaniards out of city, but Moctezuma was taken hostage Eventually Aztecs forced Spaniards out of city, but Moctezuma was taken hostage Cortez and his men laid siege to Tenochtitlan, captured and demolished the city Cortez and his men laid siege to Tenochtitlan, captured and demolished the city Mexican population dropped to less than 1 million within 100 years Mexican population dropped to less than 1 million within 100 years

The Incas

Incan Civilization Very advanced society with strong army, fought constantly with neighbors Very advanced society with strong army, fought constantly with neighbors Capital city was Cuzco, high up in the Andes Mountains Capital city was Cuzco, high up in the Andes Mountains Civilization united by 12,000 miles of roads through mountains Civilization united by 12,000 miles of roads through mountains Agricultural, farmed on terraced ledges Agricultural, farmed on terraced ledges Leader was Atahualpa, who took over after winning a civil war against his brother Leader was Atahualpa, who took over after winning a civil war against his brother Was not very popular Was not very popular

Pizarro and the Incas Spanish got along well with Atahualpa at first Pizarro wanted extreme amounts of gold to ship back to Spain, but Incas refused Pizarro kidnapped Atahualpa, demanded huge ransom for his return Incas paid ransom, Spaniards killed Atahualpa anyway Spaniards eventually conquered Incan heartland, native population plummeted

The Aftermath The Native Population dropped by over 90% within 100 years of the first European contact The Native Population dropped by over 90% within 100 years of the first European contact Europeans began to establish colonies and harvest resources to send back to the New World Europeans began to establish colonies and harvest resources to send back to the New World

How could the Europeans so easily conquer the native peoples? 1. disease 2. military superiority 3. division among the natives